After months of planning and remote design meetings, the St. Daniel project is well underway. I’ve delivered four of the fourteen Stations of the Cross, all of which were designed by my favorite design collaborator, artist Rex Kare of Kare Studios. The Design Committee consisted of Father John Ouper and two parishioners, one of whom is an artist herself. We met over Zoom links, discussing style, materials, design goals and composition. Rex was patient and responsive to our requests and ideas. We’re very happy with the end results, which are focused on the immediacy of the Passion story. Images were intentionally “cropped” to draw the viewer in as a first-person witness to Christ’s suffering.
Rex designed each station digitally, which made them easier to share and modify through the discussion. Once finalized, they were uploaded and printed commercially at full scale. I’m using the full drawings under the mosaic layers as my guide.
Fabrication process for Station One: Jesus is Condemned to Death. According to the Gospel of Matthew, Pilate washed his hands in front of the crowd before announcing, “I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves.” The cartoon is under a clear sheet of heavy plastic, covered with fiberglass mesh. Italian glass smalti is adhered directly to the mesh with Laticrete 254 Platinum thinset. The mosaics don’t need grouting. When the mosaic is complete, the plastic is removed and the mosaic is thinset into the metal frame, again using thinset.
The heavy black lines are an intentional stylistic choice. The designs complement the contemporary style of St. Daniel’s architecture. It’s very different from my usual style - but I am enjoying the challenge!
Station One, framed. The clients requested a ruddy texture using mixed materials. I’ve incorporated sheared marble, 24k gold (in Pilate’s robe and the bowl), and transparent smalti in the water.
Detail of Christ. The crown of thorns is a series of aggressive red “xs,” outlined in black. They are so thin, I’ve used a special smalti called “contorno,” specifically made thinly for outlines and detail work.
Station Two: Jesus is Made to Bear his Cross.
Station Two detail.
Station Three: Jesus Falls the First Time.
This station was challenging because it included a silhouette of the actual church of St. Daniel the Prophet. The distinctive roofline and angles of the roof are instantly recognizable to the parishioners, further emphasizing their participation in the journey.
Station Four: Jesus Encounters Mary.
Station Five, “Simon of Cyrene is Made to Carry the Cross.”
A view of the back side before setting the mosaic into the frame. Thanks to @nanciemillspipgras for the video.
Completed Station Five: Simon of Cyrene is Made to Bear the Cross.
Station Six: Veronica Wipes Jesus’ Face
Station Seven: Jesus Falls a Second Time.
Station 8: The Women of Jerusalem Weep with Jesus.
All images and designs are © Julie Richey Mosaics, LLC 2023.